LA Kings Draft: Matt Coronato 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

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He’d definitely be a reach inside the top ten, but if the LA Kings were to trade down in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Chicago Steel’s Matt Coronato would be a great selection. He’s a right-handed shot, but Coronato’s versatility playing on both sides makes him an attractive option.

The New York, NY native followed up his 40-point rookie season with the Chicago Steel by tallying a USHL-leading 48 goals and 85 points in 51 games this past season. He also had the best plus-minus in the league.

Coronato helped Chicago advance to the Clark Cup Finals, and while quickness is a noted concern among scouts, there’s no questioning his ability to score.

Watching his film, he carries the puck confidently into the attacking zone and will often dart through the slot before firing the puck past the netminder, a true goal-scorers goal. Away from the puck, Coronato likes to hang around the net, creating terrific scoring chances off rebounds.

He’s set to join LA Kings 2020 third-round pick Alex Laferriere at Harvard next season.

Matt Coronato, LW/RW

Vitals

Age: 18
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 183 lbs
Shot: R

Rankings

Ranked #29 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #40 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #24 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #13 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #21 by SPORTSNET’S
Ranked #36 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #33 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #19 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #33 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #27 by THE PUCK AUTHORITY
Ranked #21 by TSN/McKenzie

Scouting Report

February 2021 – A New York native, Coronato is having a huge season for the Chicago Steel of the USHL as a first-year draft eligible. His 24 goals and 27 assists in just 28 games are good enough for second in league scoring, just behind teammate and Montreal Canadiens prospect Sean Farrell. That kind of production is tough to ignore, even if Coronato is one of the older players in his draft class. Already dominating in the USHL, he will be looking to make an impact in the NCAA next season when he begins his collegiate career at Harvard University. Though he isn’t the biggest player, Coronato plays something of a powerful, straight-ahead style of hockey. He has good speed when presented with space to generate a head of steam but his ability to move laterally while handling the puck leaves something to be desired. He can get caught on his heels when standing still, limiting his body control and ability to transfer his weight which leads to a slow first step and lack of acceleration. Mobility concerns aside, Coronato is an intriguing offensive player with good instincts and sense of spacing to go along with a heavy wrist shot. He makes good reads in the offensive zone, often fading out of coverage up high before jumping back into a soft spot at just the right time to receive a pass and get a shot off. He also has good vision and does well to scan the play with his head up, with or without the puck, consistently finding teammates in space. Coronato is short but stocky for his age and displays good strength protecting the puck, often keeping defenders on his back on the cycle while looking to make a play. Despite his lack of foot speed, he forechecks well with an active stick and regularly disrupts breakouts to turn the play back the other way. There is a lot to like about Coronato’s game but he needs to add some quickness to his skill set in order to take full advantage of his offensive instincts at the next level. Dobber Prospects/Richard

Production

19-20: 18G, 22A, 69 PIM, +20 in 45 games for the Chicago Steel (USHL)
20-21: 48G, 37A, 57 PIM, +37 in 51 for the Steel
2021: 7G, 3A, 2 PIM, +9 in 6 playoff games

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Matt Coronato, LW/RW

Schedule